My grandson not interested in working with me — Dangote

Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that his first grandson is not currently interested in joining the family business.

Dangote said the grandson, an electrical engineer, prefers to first gain experience at global professional services firms KPMG or PwC before eventually joining the conglomerate.

He disclosed this on Tuesday during a high-level investor engagement organised for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s initial public offering with Kenyan and East African institutional investors in Nairobi.

Speaking about succession planning and the involvement of his family in the business, Dangote said his grandson wanted to develop financial expertise outside the family firm.

“And my first grandson, he’s not finding it interesting to work with me for now. He wants to go and get experience with KPMG or PWC. Then after he’ll come and join us. He’s an electrical engineer, but he wants to go and learn about money first,” he said.

Dangote also introduced his first daughter, Mariya Dangote, and her husband, Alassane, who attended the event, inviting them to stand and acknowledge the audience.

Describing Mariya as shy, the industrialist said his three daughters—Mariya, Halima and Fatima—already occupy executive positions across different parts of the conglomerate.

The Dangote Group has interests spanning cement, sugar, refining, fertiliser and manufacturing.

On the company’s long-term planning, Dangote said the group does not operate with 10-year plans, arguing that such targets could make people complacent because the deadline appears too distant.

He said the group instead works with five-year plans involving senior executives, including Group Vice Presidents Edwin and Alaki, Group Chief Financial Officer Murat, David Bird and other directors.

Dangote has previously said having a male heir is not a priority for him, adding that he believes one or more of his daughters could eventually lead the conglomerate.